Audrey Ruth McDonald

Audrey was born October 31, 1936, in Vernon, TX. Her father, Clarence Green, was the adopted son of a prominent Vernon family, and was a successful farmer and rancher in Vernon, until his death when Audrey was 9 years old. Her mother, Emilie (Obenhaus) Green worked hard to support her family with the help of her large family of farmers as well as serving as the employee chef at the Wagon National Bank. Audrey was close to her father’s brother, Judge Green and his wife, Ruth, who encouraged her interest in bookkeeping. Audrey’s large extended family provided plenty of fun and entertainment with Lutheran worship and family gatherings, which continued as reunions throughout her adult life.

She graduated from Lockett High School and attended Texas Tech until meeting her husband Jim McDonald, who she married in 1957. She created a successful life for herself, putting her secretarial and accounting skills to work while Jim completed his degrees in petroleum engineering at Texas Tech and structural engineering at Purdue University in Lafayette, IN. She embraced life as a Hoosier while Jim completed his doctorate, working in the Industrial Psychology Department at Purdue. She and Jim became lifelong fans of the Indianapolis 500 while in Indiana, and were able to attend several times. In Indiana, she and Jim birthed a lifelong love of cocker spaniels, getting their first one, a solid white dog named Remmie, who quickly became an important member of their family. She sadly left Purdue when Jim completed his PhD and accepted a faculty position, returning to Texas Tech.

Audrey quickly became active in faculty life with Jim at Texas Tech, making lifelong friends, as they enjoyed celebrating fun, friendship, Texas Tech sports, symphony, and lots of frivolity. She became a stay-at-home mother upon the birth of daughter Julie in 1967, but she stayed active as cheerleader, taxi driver, school volunteer, chaplain, cook, artist in residence, gardener and event planner for Julie and Jim, while pursuing her own interests in the League of Women Voters, Friends of the Library, and serving as the treasurer for Redeemer Lutheran Church.

She returned to work with her cousin, Nita Kiesling when Julie reached junior high school, keeping books for Nita’s growing real estate company. Audrey was able to grow her talents as the company grew to merge with Westmark Realtors. She took great pride in her work and thoroughly enjoyed her friends and colleagues, while continuing to be a cheerleader for Julie’s budding medical career. She joined Jim in retirement after 27 years of service in 2007 to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a dream trip to Australia and New Zealand.

Audrey continued both world and domestic travel with Jim after retirement, while volunteering with Upbring, Meals on Wheels, and various activities at Christ Lutheran Church in between trips and visits with Julie. She especially enjoyed yard work and spending time with friends until her health problems made this difficult. She passed away peacefully on March 24, 2021, with her family by her side.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m., to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, March 28, 2021 at Resthaven Funeral Home.

A Celebration of Audrey’s life will be held with fellowship and remembrance at Resthaven’s Abbey Chapel Monday, March 29, 2021. Livestream will be available on Resthaven's Facebook.